12v Dinghy inflators

[jac]

I'm tempted to purchase one of the 12v dinghy pumps as an interim measure until we fit davits.

Has anyone got any opinion on them, specifically do they really blow up a 4 man dink in 4 minutes.

I'm also slightly concerned re length of cable. Most of them seem to be 3m of cable terminating in crocodile clips which I don't like. I would really need 6m to get from my batteries to the aft deck where I would inflate. As a short term solution do any of them look suitable to be opened up and have a decent length of a larger sized cable inserted as I wouldn't be keen on just extending the existing cable.

For a longer term solution, are there any suitable 12v sockets and plugs capable of powering 25a draw as I could then install a proper fused feed for it terminating in a socket near the aft deck. Even if that had to be below decks with the cable coming through a hatch I wouldn't mind.

 

[NickRobinson]

I can blow my 2.5m roundtail in less than 4minutes using something cheap and cheerful like this-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cfly889-E...025131?hash=item33b4c3392b:g:0qMAAOSwbwlXA8QL
with two provisos.
1/ Block off with tape the small air bleed hole on the outlet nozzle.
2/ I do need to finish off with a hand pump, but much easier/quicker, less than 20 strokes.
I use a cig lighter socket but extending the cable should be OK.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Same as NIck.

 

[rob2]

I use a cheap 12V pump on my dinghy - much easier as my car has a high output cigarette ligfhter socket in the boot. I think the 4 minutes claim is optimistic, but I can load the dinghy whilst it's inflating rather than knackering myself with the pump. Half a dozen strokes with the hand pump per chamber gets it up to pressure. I keep meaning to buy another pump to keep on the boat as I don't want to leave the dinghy on a swinging mooring (guarantee it wouldn't be there when I get back) and towing it is like sailing with a drogue!

Rob.

 

[prv]

I have one of the LVM handheld blowers. I haven't timed it, but the tube visibly expands before my eyes when using it and I could believe a claim of 4 minutes. The dinghy is usable at the pressure the blower can get to, but I prefer to firm it up with a few strokes on the footpump. The air floor of course requires the high-pressure side of the footpump anyway.

I've fitted a 30-amp Bulgin waterproof socket in the anchor locker - this is a substantial item with a screw-on blanking cap on a wire strop and feels like it would almost be suitable for the outside of a submarine! My second-hand pump had been fitted with a mish-mash of cable; I cut this off near the pump and attached a suitably sized new one with solder and heatshrink. Before I did this, the over-extended cable used to get hot to the touch and the blower slowed down - you definitely need to pay attention to cable size and volt drop with these units. The run to the anchor locker used even larger cable to minimise the drop up to that point - afraid I can't remember either of the sizes off-hand.

The main downside is that the pump is fairly noisy, and depending on the surroundings it sometimes feels a little anti-social to fire it up. It's not running for long, though.

Pete

 

[NickRobinson]

...........

The main downside is that the pump is fairly noisy, and depending on the surroundings it sometimes feels a little anti-social to fire it up. It's not running for long, though.

Pete

I agree- in Lullworth Cove it felt as if I'd polled up with a ghetto blaster-

 

[Seajet]

I've got an LVM* job too, and agree 4 minutes sounds easily achievable.

* I think Force 4 sell the same thing under a different name now.

Edit, yes;

http://www.force4.co.uk/rule-12v-high-speed-dinghy-inflator.html?sqr=dinghy pump&#.V1LdML6wXcs

Just to reiterate for anyone else reading, these things really do need a special supply like PRV's, or the croc clips straight onto the battery; the draw will fry any normal 12v socket wiring.

I've sometimes wondered if a small motorcycle battery and one of these pumps would be handy in emergency if one does not carry a liferaft...

 

[prv]

I agree- in Lullworth Cove it felt as if I'd polled up with a ghetto blaster-

Of course, the odds are that dinghy inflation will shortly be followed by outboard motor ignition anyway

Pete

 

[PaulRainbow]

That Force 4 one looks expensive.

I used the el-cheapo type linked to in post #2. Pumps the dinghy up quickly, not too noisy and didn't need any heavy duty wiring etc.

 

[NickRobinson]

Of course, the odds are that dinghy inflation will shortly be followed by outboard motor ignition anyway

Pete

Try seconds 50..... https://duckduckgo.com/?t=lm&q=dumb+and+dumber+most+irritating+noise&ia=videos&iai=KAWoP1kncRE

 

[LadyInBed]

I can blow my 2.5m roundtail in less than 4minutes using something cheap and cheerful like this-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cfly889-E...025131?hash=item33b4c3392b:g:0qMAAOSwbwlXA8QL
with two provisos.
1/ Block off with tape the small air bleed hole on the outlet nozzle.
2/ I do need to finish off with a hand pump, but much easier/quicker, less than 20 strokes.
I use a cig lighter socket but extending the cable should be OK.

I have a similar pump and do the same.
The LVM is much more powerful with a higher current consumption and price.

 

[lw395]

Generally, I can't see the problem with a decent foot pump.
But a diving cylinder is very effective.

Another alternative is a small vacuum cleaner which will run from an inverter.

 

[Spyro]

Also happy with a cheap 12th version from Aldi. Very quick but needs finishing with the foot pump. Cost about a fiver. Rated at 120w so draws less than 10 amps with the engine running. It comes with a cigarette type adapter fitting.

 

[ex-Gladys]

A Bravo 12 pump draws 20A, I'm working out how to be able to extend the cable to connect the croc clips to the domestic bank. There is a plug and socket to enable it to be taken out of the bag. Blew up our 3.2 m Honwave in about 10 mins... I'll have to have a look at the plug/ socket to see if I can just replace the main length of cable

 

[peteK]

Also happy with a cheap 12th version from Aldi. Very quick but needs finishing with the foot pump. Cost about a fiver. Rated at 120w so draws less than 10 amps with the engine running. It comes with a cigarette type adapter fitting.

+1

 

[LadyInBed]

A Bravo 12 pump draws 20A, I'm working out how to be able to extend the cable to connect the croc clips to the domestic bank. There is a plug and socket to enable it to be taken out of the bag. Blew up our 3.2 m Honwave in about 10 mins... I'll have to have a look at the plug/ socket to see if I can just replace the main length of cable

Make up an extension cable with banana plugs and sockets on the ends.
Cut the pump cable about 6" from the crock clips and terminate the ends with banana plugs and sockets. (sockets to the crock clip ends)

 

[BlueChip]

If you have an airdeck dinghy needing high pressure take a look at the Bravo pump its much better than the LVM (I've got both)
You simply dial up the pressure required press the start button and the inflator pumps to the required pressure and cut out.
I have a 3.2 Zodiac fastroller and it really is a 5 minute job, and so effortless that we decided against davits.

 

[Seajet]

That Force 4 one looks expensive.

I dunno, I seem to recall my faithful one - an original LVM - cost around £70 about 25 years ago !

 

[Avocet]

We've had an LVM for a good 15 years now. Blows up our little 2(ish) metre tender in about 2 minutes.

 

[seadog30]

I dunno, I seem to recall my faithful one - an original LVM - cost around £70 about 25 years ago !

+1

Best investment we ever made.

When we moved up to a longer boat we had the same problem with the lead length, I obtained 7Mtr of heavier / thicker cable and cut off the old cable a foot from the pump and soldered the joints and sealed them with heat shrink and self alagamating tape. Problem solved.

£70 is a lot cheaper than davits and has less windage + no weight over the transom.

Good luck